Tampa Bay Rays (64-69, fourth in the AL East) vs. Washington Nationals (53-80, fifth in the NL East)

Washington; Friday, 6:45 p.m. EDT

PITCHING PROBABLES: Rays: Adrian Houser (7-4, 2.88 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, 62 strikeouts); Nationals: Mitchell Parker (7-14, 6.01 ERA, 1.49 WHIP, 87 strikeouts)

BOTTOM LINE: The Washington Nationals come into a matchup against the Tampa Bay Rays after losing five straight games.

Washington has a 53-80 record overall and a 26-39 record in home games. The Nationals are 33-11 in games when they have more hits than their opponents.

Tampa Bay is 30-36 on the road and 64-69 overall. The Rays have the eighth-ranked team on-base percentage in the AL at .314.

The matchup Friday is the first meeting this season between the two teams.

TOP PERFORMERS: James Wood leads t

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